Francis Blanchet “Vielles Vignes”

POUILLY-FUMÉ, FRANCE |  2024

Sauvignon Blanc isn’t exactly a hidden gem. It’s one of the most widely loved white grapes in the world, but normally for our wine club we like to feature wines that are a little more off the beaten path. Every so often, however, it’s worth revisiting the classics. After all, there’s a big difference between an everyday Sauvignon Blanc and a bottle from old vines in Pouilly-Fumé made in small quantities by a 5th generation winemaking family! Francis Blanchet is one of the trusted names in this part of the Loire Valley farming the eastern banks of the river across from Sancerre. The soils here are full of flint (silex if you want to sound impressive at dinner), and they’re the secret behind that famous smoky-mineral note that gives the wines their signature style. Blanchet’s “Vieilles Vignes” comes from old vines that dig deeper into those soils, pulling out layers of complexity you just don’t get from younger plantings.

In the glass this wine is Sauvignon Blanc dialed up a notch: brisk citrus, ripe pear, a whiff of white flowers, and that subtle smoky edge that makes you pause and think. It’s lively but also textured with a weight and depth that separate it from your everyday Sauvignon Blancs that are made in bulk (and charged a premium price to the public just because they can).

Want something to brighten up a goat cheese salad? Done. Want to bring a bottle that impresses at a dinner party without being too pretentious? This one’s got your back. Pouilly-Fumé sometimes lives in Sancerre’s shadow, but wines like this are proof it deserves its own spotlight. At Le Midi we always like to vouch for the underdogs!